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Home>Service> Awardees of Fervent Global Love of Lives Award> 24th Fervent Global Love of Lives Award 2021> The Armless Artist —Guo Yi-Bo
 The Armless Artist —Guo Yi-Bo
Rise from the ashes, pen his own legacy

“Calligraphy has breathed new hope into my life, and I thoroughly enjoy every moment of it,” —Guo Yi-Bo
 
An armless superman
 
        On the busy streets in Beijing, a circle of dozens of people surrounded Guo as he painted calligraphy on the ground. Guo was born to a poor village family on Feburary 11, 1980 in Shandong province. At age 17, he came to Beijing to pursue his dream and worked as a cook at a local restaurant.
        On December 12, 2003, Guo’s kitchen had a gas explosion, and the fire severely burned the young man. After 14 surgeries, Guo finally recovered, but his family was greatly in debt.
        Guo and his parents lived in abject poverty, often sleeping on the streets or eating from trashcans. However, Guo’s wife Fang Xiufang, has been very supportive of his recovery. One day, as they were watching television at the hospital, they saw an armless man using his mouth to hold a brush and produced great calligraphy works.
        This has inspired Guo to pursue calligraphy as well. At first, he would try different writing styles, and finally decided on the lishu style popularized in the eastern Han dynasty. He would practice the lishu masterpiece, Cao Quanbei, for the next 17 years.
        Soon, story of a disabled man writing great calligraphy only using his mouth has spread across the country, and many calligraphy artists sent their regards and advised him on how to improve his work.
        Guo’s street calligraphy did not bring him riches, but at least it was a means of living. In the winter 2008, he used the little money he saved to buy instant noodles for passengers at train stations. He has indeed become a noble legend full of optimism and love for the unfortunates.
 
        Disaster strikes
 
        Born in a poor family in Shandong province, Guo went to Beijing looking for employment after graduating middle school. He eventually got a job at a local restaurant as a cook.
        On December 12, 2003, the gas tank in Guo’s kitchen was empty, so Guo called his colleague to help replace the tank. After the new gas tank was installed, the moment Guo turned it on, it exploded and the shockwave sent him flying out of the kitchen.
        When Guo finally regained his consciousness, he was lying on a hospital bed, fully covered in bandages and had lost both arms. The fire has completed destroyed his face, and he was on the verge of death.
        Guo’s health condition stabilized after two years and 14 surgeries. But the bill was piling up fast. “I thought to myself, maybe I should just die, so that my parents, my lovely wife, can live without burden,” he said.
 
        Love to the rescue
 
        Lucky for Guo, his wife Fang Xiufang has been very supporative during his recovery. She would help pay the medical bills and take care of his husband in their 6-square meter apartment.
        Fearing his appearance would scare others, Guo would spend most of his time at home watching TV. One day, Guo saw an armless man writing calligraphy using his mouth, and this inspired him. But Guo only had an elementary school education, and no resources or money to study the art.
        To pursue his new hobby, Guo began copying great calligraphic master pieces from history using his feet. Soon he discovered that his feet were not very flexible, so he used his mouth instead. This practice dictated his life for the next 17 years.
        Soon his story of perseverance reached his hometown, and many want to see his work in action. This allowed Guo to open up to strangers and he began socializing again.
        When Guo was not practicing, he would visit antique stores and discuss calligraphy with other people. Now, he has been recognized as an calligraphy artist and a member of the calligraphy society in Beijing.
        New Life
 
        In 2016, Guo and his family had finally repaid their medical bills, and they welcomed their first daughter into the world. The responsibility of fatherhood motivated Guo to become better at his craft.
        Guo would often tell his friends that calligraphy has breathed new life into him, and he thoroughly enjoyed the creative process. “I am not doing this to earn sympathy, I am doing it for myself, and for all those people who believed in me when I am down, I want to thank them by living a fulfilling life.”
        Guo now makes his living by painting calligraphy arts on the street. Many passersby have been mesmerized by his finesse and skill with a brush, and are willing to pay big money for his art piece.
        However, Guo don’t sell his art to the highest bidder. Instead, he would let the buyer decide the price. He said this was his way of repaying his gratitude towards society, and he has always wanted to do more.
        In 2008, southern China experienced one of the worst snowstorms in decades. Tens of thousands of people were trapped in the train stations in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Seeking the people were in need, Guo donated 1,008 cups of instant noodles to these unfortunate people.
        The donation wasn’t much, but it was the gesture that moved the world. Soon, Guo’s story reached national headlines, and the armless artist has finally received the recognition he deserved.